Freight Reverse: Jan 27 - Feb 2

Welcome to Freight Reverse, sharing the latest reverse logistics market news each week. Interested in learning more about reverse logistics? if so, check out the Reverse Logistics Association and consider joining.

Circular Economy

• RPRA - Germany launched its National Circular Economy Strategy (NCES) to reduce waste, improve resource efficiency, and support a shift away from linear consumption models. The strategy prioritizes product durability, reparability, and the increased use of recycled materials while strengthening recycling infrastructure.

NBC - From jewelry and clothes to food waste, a growing number of sectors are focusing on operating as part of a "circular economy," aiming to waste less — and reap the financial benefits in the process. The rising cost of raw materials and a move to reduce carbon emissions could mean working in this way becomes "critical," according to Goldman Sachs, which said the global economy could benefit to the tune of up to $4.5 trillion by 2030.

Recommerce

Inc. - How this recommerce platform turns unsold merch into revenue for everyone from Amazon to Walmart

“Everyone builds up inventory for Christmas, pre-holiday season, and then whether it’s through both the overstock side of things [or] the customer returns side of things, it tends to be January and February are your really big months for moving inventory,” says B-Stock CEO Marcus Shen, who explains that his company oversees the sale of 30-40 percent more inventory in the period after the holidays than at other points during the year.

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Recycling

• Waste Dive - The waste and recycling industry outlook for 2025
• Recycling Today - A product-material-product loop (PMP) established and operated by Panasonic Corp. and Mitsubishi Materials Corp. has recovered more than 8,000 tons of gold, silver, and copper recovered from end-of-life printed circuit boards (PCBs) harvested from discarded home appliances, according to the companies.
• Plastics Recycling Update - Shein has developed a chemical recycling process alongside a Chinese research university and is planning to start up a facility in June, producing 6.6 million pounds per year of chemically recycled polyester for use in its apparel.
• Recycling Today - Paper recycling initiatives aim to address regulatory barriers, waste management practices
• Geekwire – Prism announced $40 million in funding from investors including Jim Sinegal, Costco’s co-founder and former CEO, and Columbia Pacific Advisors. It is using patented technologies that can take some of the 300 million used tires that are tossed out each year in the U.S. and turn them into a polymer that can be used in a variety of applications.
• Recycling Today - Avantium N.V., which specializes in renewable and circular polymer materials, says it has found a solution for recycling polycotton textiles through a collaboration with the Industrial Sustainable Chemistry group at the University of Amsterdam.
• Inside EVs - The second-life EV battery market could be worth billions by 2035

RLA News

Our monthly webinar series continues this Wednesday - Global Right to Repair Legislation Updates with Gay Gordon-Byrne, Executive Director at The Repair Association and David Fitzsimons, Director at European Remanufacturing Council. Click here to register.

That's it for this week. If you have news to share, please send to [email protected].

- Cathy